Electric connector



(No Model.)

E. L. ORCUTT. ELECTRIC CONNECTOR.

No. 434,943. Patented Aug. 26, 1890 ED STATES EDW'ARD L. ORCUTT, OF SOMERVILLE, MASSACHUSETTS.

ELECTRIC CONNECTOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 434,943, dated August 26, 1890.

Applicationiiled February 6, 1390- Serial No. 339,446. (No model.)

.To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD L. ORCUTT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Somerville, in the county of Middlesex, State of Massachusetts, have in vented certain new and useful Improvements in Electrical Connectors, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to devices for connecting electrical conductors, especially a small conductor -such as a copper wireto alarger stationary condnctoras, for example, a railway-rail. It is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figures 1 and 2 are respectively end and side elevations of my connector. Fig. 3 is a transverse section of the railway-rail, to wh ich the copper or other suitable wire is attached by means of my device. Figs. 4: and 5 respectively are end and side elevations of a modified form of my connector. Figv G is a tranverse section of the railway-rail, to which the connector is attached by means of my modified form of device.

My invention consists, essentially, of a tube having a tapered end and split at one or more points in its periphery, which is adapted to inclose the wire to be connected, and then be driven forcibly into a corresponding hole in the web of the rail or other piece to which the attachment is to be made.

.In Figs. 1 and 2 my device is shown as split at two points, making two corresponding halves of the tube; and in Figs. 4c and 5 the tube is split but once.

Referring to Fig. 3, B is the railway-rail,. and O is the wire, which it is desired to connect thereto. The web of the rail is shown as provided with a circular hole, into which the wire 0 is passed, the hole being somewhat larger in diameter than the wire. Upon the outer end of wire 0 are then placed the two parts A A of my connector, tapered toward the end away from the end of the Wire, and the connector itself, with the inclosed wire, is driven tightly into the opening in the rail. Substantially the same operation is employed in connection with the modified form of device illustrated in Figs. 4, 5, and 6.

I have found that the device thus described is very simple, and at the same time it forms a convenient means of connection, and affords a permanent electrical contact between the rail and the wire Without any soldering. or brazing.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination, with a railway-rail or other large conductor, of a Wire to' be attached thereto, and an intermediate connector consisting of a split metallic tube embracing the conductor and tapered so as to be driven into an opening in the rail.

2. The combination, with a railway-rail or other large conductor, of a wire to be attached thereto, and an intermediate connector con sisting of a split tube embracing the conductor and tapered away from the end of the conductor, so as'to be driven into an opening in the rail.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 4th day of February, 1890.

EDIVARD L. ORCUT'J.

In presence of- S. G. CRosWELL, E. M. BENTLEY. 

